Fur fletched arrows



Feb. 18, 1969 A J. MANNING 3,428,321 FUR FLETCHED ARROWS Filed Jan. 15. 1967 FIG. 2

FIG. I

90 as ea 9 ARNOLD d. MANNING lNl/ENTOR 5y BUCKHOR/V, BLORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN AT fOR/VE Y5 United States Patent Office 3,428,321 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 3,428,321 FUR FLETCHED ARROWS Arnold J. Manning, Eugene, reg., assignor to William E. Sweetland, Eugene, Oreg. Filed Jan. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 609,186 US. Cl. 273106.5 Int. Cl. A63b 65/02 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Description This invention relates to fur fletched arrows, and more particularly to arrows and fur fletchings therefor.

The vanes or fletchings on arrows have traditionally been made of feathers, and in almost all cases the vanes were attached parallel to or slightly spiraled on the shaft to act as rudders for guidance. An exception to this is the fiu-flu arrow in which the feather is twisted spirally around the shaft at the nock end, the purpose being partially to act as a drag on the rear end to guide it accurately, but mainly to limit the distance the arrow would travel. Feathers, whether natural or artificial, have required jigs or the like for gluing the feathers to the arrows. Also, feather fletchings are easily broken when on a target, in the quiver and in shipping containers. Also, the fletchings on feather fletched arrows are easily damaged or shot off by other arrows when they are in the target, are not as easily seen as is desired and do not as effectively prevent wobbling as would be desired.

An object of the invention is to provide fur fletched arrows.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved arrows and fur fletchings therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide arrow fletchings which will not crush or break.

Another object of the invention is to provide arrow fletchings which can be easily applied to arrows without jigs or fixtures.

A still further object of the invention is to provide fletchings on arrows which are readily visible to the shooter when the arrows are grouped on a target.

Another object of the invention is to provide arrow fietchings which effectively damp or drag the flight of arrows to prevent wobbling of the arrows during flight and make the flight smooth.

The invention provides fur fletched arrows and fur flctchings for arrows. An arrow forming one embodiment of the invention includes a fletching of either natural or artificial fur adhered to the shaft of the arrow near the nock thereof. The fletching may be in the form of an elongated strip of fur with a pressure sensitive adhesive on the hide to secure the strip to the arrow. Several strips may be secured to the shaft of the arrow in positions extending primarily longitudinally of the arrow with a slight spiral if desired. Alternatively, an elongated strip may be wound in a close spiral on the shaft to form, in effect, a fur collar which may be short or long, as desired, or may be wound in a more open spiral. The fur strip may have a masking strip or cover of paper or fabric for ease of handling prior to applying the strip to the arrow.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of fur fletched arrows forming specific embodiments thereof,

when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a fur fletching forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of a fur fletched arrow forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of a fur fletched arrow forming an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevation view, during fabrication, of an arrow forming an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fur fletching 10 forming one embodiment of the invention. The fletching comprises a narrow strip of fur having a waterproof pressure sensitive adhesive on a face 14 of a hide or skin strip 16 of the fletching with a removable paper or cloth strip 18 covering the adhesive for ease of handling the fletching during shipment and in applying the fletching to an arrow shaft. The fletching also includes close, round, highly flexible fur fibers or hairs 20. The fur may be natural fur such as, for example, the fur of rabbit, fox or squirrel or it may be an artificial or synthetic fur.

In FIG. 2 there is shown an arrow 30 forming one embodiment of the invention and including the fletching 10. The arrow includes a shaft 32 to which a head 34 is secured at one end and a nock member 36 is secured at the other end, the fletching 10 being secured to the end portion of the shaft near the nock member. The strip of skin 16 is wound on the shaft in a close spiral with the pressure sensitive adhesive on the face 14 pressed against the shaft and strongly adhered thereto. The fibers 20, which are coextensive with the skin, form a cylinder which is soft and easily compressed. The length of the cylinder may be varied by a longer or shorter strip of fur to provide the desired fletching action. Different lengths of the fibers may also be used, if desired, to provide different damping effects. The fibers 20 are shown, to better illustrate the construction of the fletching, in closely packed form. However, the fibers actually fluff out or spread somewhat from each other, proceeding from the hide 16 outwardly, and the outer ends of the fibers form a substantially uninterrupted cylindrical surface.

An arrow 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4) forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes a shaft 42, a nock member 46, a head (not shown) and a fletching 50 which is identical with the fletching 10 except that a strip of hide or skin 56 of the fletching 50 is secured to the shaft in an open spiral form. The fletching 50 has a lesser drag or damping effect than the fletching 10. Fibers 60 of the fletching 50, like the fibers 20, normally extend radially of the shaft 42, and are soft, flexible and are not crushed or broken even by very rough handling. A layer of waterproof, pressure sensitive adhesive on inner face 54 of the skin 56 securely fastens the fletching in situ on the shaft.

An arrow 70 (FIGS. 5 and 6) forming an alternate embodiment of the invention includes a shaft 72, a nock member 76, a head (not shown) and two fletchings 80. Each fletching is a narrow fur strip wound in a very long pitch or open spiral on the shaft, the fletchings 80 being parallel and positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the shaft. Each fletching 80 includes along narrow strip of hide or skin 86 secured at its inner face 84 by a waterproof, pressure sensitive adhesive to the shaft 72 and having flexible fibers 90 extending radially of the shaft. The fletching 80 which is uppermost as viewed in FIG. 5 is shown being applied to the shaft 72 with a cover strip 88 being peeled off the pressure sensitive adhesive. If desired, before the fletching operation, guide lines may be provided on the shaft as by printing, for example, to indicate where the fietchings should be placed. The fietchings 80 damp the arrow and also act as vanes to eliminate wobble of the arrow.

The above-described fietchings may be very easily applied to the arrow shafts, no tools or jigs being required. Also, the arrows are ready for use immediately after the fietchings are applied, no waiting for an adhesive to dry being necessary. When the arrows are grouped on a target, there is no damage to the fietchings. The arrows also can be tightly bunched in a quiver or a shipping bundle without damage to the fietchings. The damping of the closer wound fur fietchings imparts very smooth, nonwobbling flight to the arrows, thereby avoiding striking the target at an angle, which would make the arrows prone to be struck by subsequent arrows. While the above- =described fietchings have been disclosed as being of fur, the fietchings may be of hair, wool or synthetic fibers simulating fur, hair or wool. The fietchings also may be in the form of a single, wide strip or tube secured to the shaft in the form of a sleeve rather than be positioned in a spiral.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arrow,

a shaft having a mock end and a head end,

and fietching including a plurality of separate, round, elongated, flexible fibers secured at one end of each to the shaft and extending outwardly from the shaft,

each of the fibers being free of the other fibers throughout at least the major portion of its length, said fietching comprising a piece of fur having a backing, the inner face of said backing being adhered to the shaft.

2. The arrow of claim 1 including a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive securing the piece to the shaft.

3. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the piece of fur is in the form of a narrow strip secured to the shaft in a spiral position.

4. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the piece of fur is in the form of a strip closely wound on the shaft so that the hair forms a cylinder.

5. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the piece of fur is in the form of a strip wound on the shaft in an open spiral.

6. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the fletching comprises a plurality of narrow strips of fur extending in parallel open spirals along the shaft.

7. The arrow of claim 1 wherein the fibers extend radially from the shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1879 Wright et al. 2/1962 Buerosse 273106.5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,428 ,321 February 18 1969 Arnold J. Manning It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, between lines 24 and 25, insert the following as a new paragraph: As used herein, the term "backing" is intended to define sheet-like material such as, for example, the hide of natural or synthetic fur. Column 4, line 7, "adhered" should read secured Signed and sealed this 24th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

